No station in the Central Pacific heard this alleged
signal. Given the propagation conditions – the western part of the path
was in daylight, the remainder in darkness – it was not plausible for
McMenamy to hear a signal on 6210 kHz. McMenamy said the signals came “from a
hand-cranked generator Miss Earhart carried on her plane.” There was no such
generator.

Credibility

Not Credible.

4

Identifier

30400PN

Z Time/Date

0400 July 3

Local Time/Date

2000 PST July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1700 July 2

Agency/Person

Karl Pierson, radio amateur

Location

Los Angeles

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Pierson said he picked up weak signals similar to those
allegedly heard by McMenamy at 1800 PST (Identifier 30200MC), but that they were
“erratic and undecipherable.”

No station in the Central Pacific heard this alleged
signal. Given the propagation conditions – the western part of the path
was in daylight, the remainder in darkness – it was not plausible for
Pierson to hear a signal on 3105 kHz. Pierson, as had McMenamy at 1800 PST,
said the signals came “from a hand-cranked generator Miss Earhart carried on
her plane.” There was no such generator. Pierson and McMenamy were close
associates and were apparently perpetrating a hoax.

This signal could have been Earhart testing her
transmitter just prior to sunset (0538Z) in preparation for night radio
operations. It also could have been one of the Morse Code radio stations in
Nicaragua. Although the signal strength at Mokapu for a signal from Nicaragua
was much less than for a signal from Gardner, it was possible for Mokapu to
hear a Nicaraguan station. There is insufficient evidence to decide whether
Mokapu was hearing Earhart’s transmitter.

Credibility

Uncertain

10

Identifier

30530IA

Z Time/Date

0530 July 3

Local Time/Date

1800 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1830 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

At sea

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Weak unreadable voice on 3105.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 114

Probability

0.99 for signal from Gardner, 0.1 for signal from west
coast aircraft.

Qual Factors

The Pan Am HFDF station at Mokapu Point, Oahu, was
listening on 3105 kHz at this time but did not hear this signal. Itasca, 3 days later on July 6,
reported definitely hearing west coast aircraft, which Mokapu did not hear. This
suggests Itasca could have been
hearing west coast aircraft voice signals on July 3. The computed reception
probability weighs in favor of the signal coming from Gardner, but there is
insufficient evidence to rule out west coast aircraft.

Although this was simultaneous with the voice signal
heard by Itasca on 3105 kHz (Identifier 30600IA), the unmodulated carrier could
have been a Nicaraguan station.

Credibility

Uncertain

15

Identifier

30555IA

Z time/date

0555 July 3

Local time/date

1825 July 2

Gardner time/date

1855 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

“We hear her on 3105 Kcs now, very weak and
unreadable/voice.”

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 115

Probability

0.99

Qual factors

Itasca apparently recognized
Earhart’s voice, even though the words were not understandable. Itasca had heard Earhart clearly
earlier in the day, when she was trying to find Howland Island.

Credibility

Credible

16

Identifier

30600IA

Z Time/Date

0600 July 3

Local Time/Date

1830 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1900 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

At sea

Freq (kHz)

3105 and 7500

Content

Itasca, in voice, asked Earhart to send a series of long
dashes. Itasca also sent a message
to Earhart at the same time, in Morse code on 7500 kHz, asking her to give
her position on 3105 kHz. Earhart did not know Morse code, and could not have
understood this request even if she was listening on 7500 kHz.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 116

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

n/a

Credibility

n/a

17

Identifier

30600AS

Z Time/Date

0600 July 3

Local Time/Date

Unknown, July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1900 July 2

Agency/Person

HMS Achilles, British Royal Navy warship

Location

At 0700 Z, Latitude 10.00 S, Longitude 160.50 W at 0700Z

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Achilles heard a station transmitting in voice on 3105 kHz at
0600Z July 3, requesting an unknown station to send dashes. Achilles then heard a second
transmitter sending dashes on the same frequency, with signal strength “good.” Achilles then heard the first
transmitter say “KHAQQ” (Earhart’s radio call sign) twice, and fade out. Achilles said that the evidence
suggests either of these signals could have been from Earhart’s plane.

Source

MSG8.PDF, p. 312

Probability

0.94

Qual Factors

Achilles apparently did not know that the Coast Guard cutter Itasca was the station requesting
dashes (see Identifier 30600IA). Itasca later confirmed that the voice
request for dashes heard by Achilles was sent by Itasca.Achilles’ assessment of the responding
dashes as “good” is consistent with the computed reception probability. The
only plausible explanation for the responding dashes is that they were sent
from Earhart’s plane (KHAQQ).

Credibility

Credible

18

Identifier

30600NW

Z Time/Date

0600 July 3 (Time
not given in report source; derived by TIGHAR analysis)

Local Time/Date

Unknown

Gardner Time/Date

1900 July 2

Agency/Person

Cargo Liner New Zealand Star, Blue Star Lines Ltd

Location

1200 miles from Howland Island. Position coordinates not specified.

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

“Steamer New
Zealand 1200 miles from Howland Island reports hearing dashes on 3105.”

Source

COMFRANDIV (MSG8.PDF, p. 319)

Probability

0.94

Qual Factors

The New Zealand, a UK trawler, was scrapped in February 1937, hence was not the reporting ship
(see Hull Trawlers). However, the New
Zealand Star was in service transporting beef from Buenos Aires to
Australia and New Zealand (see Blue Star Lines),
via the Panama Canal (see Blue Star Ships List).
The direct routes to Brisbane and Sydney, Australia, were within 1300 and
1400 miles, respectively, southeast of Howland, so it was plausible for a
ship on either route to be 1200 miles from Howland. On the other hand, the
routes to New Zealand ports were at least 1900 miles from Howland. At 0600Z,
HMS Achilles (Identifier 30600AS above)
was 1200 miles southeast of Howland. Signal propagation analysis shows the
reception probability then was the same at 1200 miles everywhere in the
southeast quadrant from Howland. But conditions deteriorated after 0600Z, and
by 0800Z reception at 1200 miles was highly unlikely. Since the only signal Achilles heard was at 0600Z, the
evidence suggests that the New Zealand
Star was 1200 miles from Howland then, enroute to or from Australia, and heard
the same signal as Achilles. Other stations reported hearing dashes on this date at
0727Z (Identifier 30727CC), and 0800Z (Identifier 30800CC).

Credibility

Credible

19

Identifier

30604IA

Z Time/Date

0604-0606 July 3

Local Time/Date

1834-1836 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1904-1906 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca heard a signal sounding “something like generator start
and then stop” on 3105 at 0604Z and again at 0605Z.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, P. 116

Probability

0.99

Qual Factors

The timing and characteristics of these signals suggest Itasca was hearing Earhart’s response
to Itasca’s request for dashes. The
dashes were heard by HMS Achilles which also heard Itasca’s request. Itasca’s failure to hear the dashes as
clearly as Achilles implies a
problem with Itasca’s antennas or
receivers, which would account for Itasca’s consistent failure to clearly hear signals heard at other central Pacific
stations and which should have been heard by Itasca. COMFRANDIV had cautioned Itasca about the possibility of such a problem on June 25.
(MSG7.PDF, p. 260)

Credibility

Credible

20

Identifier

30606IA

Z Time/Date

0606 July 3

Local Time/Date

1836 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1906 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105 kHz

Content

Itasca asked Earhart – in Morse code – to give her
position and a series of long dashes on 3105 kHz. Earhart did not know Morse
code, and could not have understood this message.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 116

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

n/a

Credibility

n/a

21

Identifier

30607IA

Z Time/Date

0607-0610 July 3

Local Time/Date

1837-1840 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1907-1910 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca continued to hear signals apparently responding to the
0600Z request for Earhart to send dashes (see Identifier 30542IA). There were unreadable signals, then dashes, then the
word “Earhart,” followed by more unreadable signals. The Itasca operator finally concluded that he was not hearing signals
from Earhart.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 116

Probability

0.99

Qual Factors

Given the context of HMS Achilles’ report (Identifier 30600AS), and the sequence of signals heard
by Itasca, including the word
“Earhart,” it is clear that the Itasca operator – who was unaware of what Achilles had heard – was mistaken. He apparently was unaware that Itasca and Earhart were the only plausible sources of voice signals on 3105
kHz in the central Pacific. The weight of evidence is consistent with these
signals being sent by Earhart.

Credibility

Credible

22

Identifier

30608IA

Z Time/Date

0608 July 3

Local Time/Date

1838 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1908 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105 kHz

Content

Itasca called Earhart, using both voice and Morse code. Content unspecified.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 116

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

n/a

Credibility

n/a

23

Identifier

30615IA

Z Time/Date

0615 July 3

Local Time/Date

1845 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1915 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Called Earhart, using voice. No details given.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 117

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

n/a

Credibility

n/a

24

Identifier

30630IA

Z Time/Date

0630 July 3

Local Time/Date

1900 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1930 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca call Earhart, asking her to send up a flare.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 118

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

n/a

Credibility

n/a

25

Identifier

30635IA

Z Time/Date

0635 July 3

Local Time/Date

1905 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

1935 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

7500

Content

Itasca called Earhart, in Morse code, asking her to send up a
flare. (Earhart did not know Morse code.)

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 118

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

n/a

Credibility

n/a

26

Identifier

30727CC

Z Time/Date

0727 July 3

Local Time/Date

2057 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

2027 July 2

Agency/Person

Coast Guard Commander, Hawaiian Sector (COMHAWSEC)

Location

Honolulu, Hawaii

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

At 0802Z COMHAWSEC relayed to Itasca a report by the Army radio station at Fort Shafter, Oahu,
of a signal heard there at 0727Z, consisting of a series of long dashes on or
about 3105 kHz.

Source

MSG8.PDF, p. 313

Probability

0.06

Qual Factors

Itasca had sent a voice signal to Earhart on 3105 kHz at 0600Z,
requesting her to send a series of long dashes (Identifier 30600IA). The dashes
heard at Fort Shafter appear to be a delayed Earhart response to Itasca’s request, or one of a series
of Earhart responses to Itasca’s request. There is no plausible explanation for any other station to be
sending long dashes on 3105 kHz.

Credibility

Credible.

27

Identifier

30800CC

Z Time/Date

0800 July 3

Local Time/Date

2130 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

2100 July 2

Agency/Person

Coast Guard Commander, Hawaiian Sector (COMHAWSEC)

Location

Honolulu

Freq (kHz)

6210

Content

At 0810Z, COMHAWSEC advised Itasca that signals were heard at 0800Z, on 6210 kHz, consisting of
long dashes and weak voice.

Source

MSG8.PDF, p. 314

Probability

0.28

Qual Factors

COMHAWSEC could have heard the signal on the second
harmonic of 3105 kHz, Earhart’s night frequency. It also is possible that
Earhart was transmitting on 6210 kHz, her day frequency, hoping someone would
hear her. Although the weak voice signals could have been from west coast
aircraft, Earhart was the only plausible source of long dashes.

Credibility

Credible

28

Identifier

30800LE

Z Time/Date

0800-0845 July 3 (times estimated from info in source
material)

Local Time/Date

0200-0245 CST July 3

Gardner Time/Date

2100-2145 July 2

Agency/Person

Mrs. Mabel Larremore

Location

Amarillo, Texas

Freq (kHz)

unknown

Content

“On the first night of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance I
heard her SOS loud and clear, not on the frequency but on the one President
Roosevelt said she might use. Her message stated the plane was down on an
uncharted island. Small, uninhabited. The plane was partially on land, part
in water. She gave the latitude and longitude of her location. I listened to
her for 30-45 minutes.… I heard her message around 2 A.M. daylight saving
time from my home in Amarillo, Texas. She stated that her navigator Fred Noonan
was seriously injured. Needed help immediately. She also had some injuries
but not as serious as Mr. Noonan.”

Mabel did not come forward with her story until 1990, and
some of her recollections are not consistent with the historical record. On
the other hand, Nauru (Identifier #s 30831NA and 30843NA) and Itasca (Identifier 30843IA)
reported credible voice transmissions during the time Mabel claimed to have
heard Earhart. In 1990, that information had not yet been compiled, let alone
published. Reception was possible on all frequencies listed above, with 15525
kHz being the most likely. This frequency also was near a band containing
shortwave broadcast stations, and could explain why Larremore was tuning
there. Despite the erroneous remark attributed to President Roosevelt, much
of the content matches signal characteristics in other reports found to be
credible – see reports by Dana Randolph (41500RH) and Betty Klenck
(52130KK).

Nauru reported hearing fairly strong signals, voice not
intelligible, no hum of plane in background but voice similar to that emitted
from the plane in flight the previous night. (This is the first of three such
signals heard by Nauru that night.)

The “hum” that Nauru heard the previous night is
consistent with the background noise of the plane’s engines in flight. The
absence of that noise in the signal reported by Nauru is consistent with the
plane’s engines not running at the same power level as in flight, but rather
a single engine running at low speed to keep the batteries charged, which
could only be the case if the plane was on land. Earhart passed south of
Nauru the previous night and Nauru heard her then, saying she had sighted a ship
ahead (see source above). The similarity of the voice heard the second night
suggests it was Earhart.

Credibility

Credible

30

Identifier

30833IA

Z Time/Date

0833 July 3

Local Time/Date

2103 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

2133 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca heard weak and unreadable signals. Later log entries
indicate this was a voice signal.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 123, and Finding Amelia, p.120

Probability

0.89

Qual Factors

The tide level at Gardner permitted engine operation. Although
weak voice signals were heard, there is insufficient evidence to rule out
west coast aircraft as the source.

Although weak voice signals were heard, there is
insufficient evidence to rule out west coast aircraft as the source(s).

Credibility

Uncertain

33

Identifier

30840IA

Z Time/Date

0840 July 3

Local Time/Date

2110 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

2140 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca, unable to understand the weak voice signal they heard,
sent a request for Earhart to send her position in Morse code. (Note: Earhart
did not know Morse code, so couldn’t comply if she heard this transmission).

Nauru reported hearing fairly strong signals, voice not
intelligible, no hum of plane in background but voice similar to that emitted
from the plane in flight the previous night. (This is the second of three
such signals heard by Nauru that night.)

The “hum” that Nauru heard the previous night is
consistent with the background noise of the plane’s engines in flight. The
absence of that noise in the signal reported by Nauru is consistent with the
plane’s engines not running at the same power level as in flight, but rather
a single engine running at low speed to keep the batteries charged, which
could only be the case if the plane was on land somewhere. Earhart passed
south of Nauru the previous night and Nauru heard her then, saying she had
sighted a ship ahead (see source above). The similarity of the voice heard
the second night suggests it was Earhart.

Credibility

Credible

35

Identifier

30843IA

Z Time/Date

0843 July 3

Local Time/Date

2113 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

2143 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca still hears unreadable voice signals.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 123

Probability

0.89 (origin Gardner); 0.000000000009 (origin west coast)

Qual Factors

Although weak voice signals were heard, that fact alone
is insufficient to rule out west coast aircraft as the source. However, Itasca heard this signal at the same
time Nauru heard Earhart on 6210 kHz. The simultaneity of these signals
suggests Earhart was transmitting on 3105 kHz, and that Nauru was hearing the
second harmonic. The fact that Itasca could not make out what was being said, given the reception probability and
attendant high signal strength at Itasca, tends to confirm COMFRANDIV’s conclusion that there was a problem with Itasca’s radio receivers or antennas.

Nauru reported hearing fairly strong signals, voice not
intelligible, no hum of plane in background but voice similar to that emitted
from the plane in flight the previous night. (This is the third of three such
signals heard by Nauru that night.)

The “hum” that Nauru heard the previous night is
consistent with the background noise of the plane’s engines in flight. The
absence of that noise in the signal reported by Nauru is consistent with the
plane’s engines not running at the same power level as in flight, but rather
a single engine running at low speed to keep the batteries charged, which
could only be the case if the plane was on land. Earhart passed south of
Nauru the previous night and Nauru heard her then, saying she had sighted a ship
ahead (see source above). The similarity of the voice heard the second night
suggests it was Earhart.

Credibility

Credible

37

Identifier

30900IA

Z Time/Date

0900 July 3

Local Time/Date

2130 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

2200 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca again heard weak, unreadable, voice signals.

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 124

Probability

0.89

Qual Factors

Although weak voice signals were heard, that fact alone
is insufficient to rule out west coast aircraft.

Credibility

Uncertain

38

Identifier

30916IA

Z Time/Date

0916 July 3

Local Time/Date

2146 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

2216 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca transmitted to Earhart. No details provided in log.

Source

RAD0703PDF, p. 125

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

n/a

Credibility

n/a

39

Identifier

30920MC

Z Time/Date

0920 July 3

Local Time/Date

0120 PST July 3

Gardner Time/Date

2220 July 2

Agency/Person

Walter McMenamy, Karl Pierson, Kenneth Bartell, and Robert Rypinski

Location

Los Angeles

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

COMFRANDIV told Itasca
“four separate radio men at Los Angeles reported receiving Earhart voice this
morning and verify ‘179 with 1.6 in doubt’ position given as ‘southwest
Howland Island’ heard on 3105 kcs and call of plane distinctly heard and
verified according to amateurs.” The time of reception of the alleged signal
was not in this report, but was later determined by COMFRANDIV to be 0920Z
July 3, based on a follow-up investigation.

The propagation conditions made it extremely unlikely
that a signal from Gardner could be heard in Los Angeles. The four amateurs
were Walter McMenamy, Karl Pierson, Kenneth Bartell, and Robert Rypinski. All
were members of the same amateur radio club. McMenamy, Pierson, and Rypinski
were at the same location from shortly after 11:00 pm PST July 2, and Bartell
may have been with them. McMenamy later confessed [on tape recording in the
TIGHAR archive] that he and his friends were hoaxers. This alleged signal was
not heard at COMFRANDIV, where a continuous listening watch was maintained,
or at any central Pacific station.

Credibility

Not credible.

40

Identifier

30958IA

Z Time/Date

0958 July 3

Local Time/Date

2228 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

2258 July 2

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca transmitted to Earhart, requesting her to respond either
in voice or Morse code. (Earhart did not know Morse code.)

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 125

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

n/a

Credibility

n/a

41

Identifier

31057CC

Z Time/Date

1057 July 3

Local Time/Date

0027 July 3

Gardner Time/Date

2357 July 2

Agency/Person

Coast Guard Commander Hawaiian Sector (COMHAWSEC)

Location

Honolulu, Hawaii

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

COMHAWSEC heard a series of long dashes, lasting 22
seconds. The sender’s call sign was not heard.

Source

MSG8.PDF, p. 319

Probability

0.007

Qual Factors

There was no plausible reason for anyone but Earhart to
send long dashes on 3105 kHz

McMenamy misspoke when he said on July 7 that he had
heard Earhart at 3:15 a.m. PST “last Friday morning.” That would be July 2
and, at that time, Earhart was still in flight. McMenamy’s associate Karl
Pierson had previously claimed to have heard Earhart early Saturday morning,
July 3 (Identifier 30400PN). The July 7 report appears to be an embellishment
of the earlier report which has been shown to be a hoax.

Credibility

Not credible.

43

Identifier

31119IA

Z Time/Date

1119 July 3

Local Time/Date

2349 July 2

Gardner Time/Date

0019 July 3

Agency/Person

Itasca

Location

Central Pacific

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

Itasca transmitted to Earhart, requesting her to respond in
voice or Morse Code. (Earhart did not know Morse code.)

Source

RAD0703.PDF, p. 128

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

n/a

Credibility

n/a

44

Identifier

31330CF

Z Time/Date

1330 July 3

Local Time/Date

0530 PST July 3

Gardner Time/Date

0230 July 3

Agency/Person

CGFS

Location

Los Angeles

Freq (kHz)

3105

Content

San Francisco Coast Guard radio informed Itasca that four separate radio
amateurs (not identified) reported hearing a woman’s voice on 3105 kHz,
giving her position as “southwest Howland Island.” The time at which the
signal was heard was not given in this report, but subsequently was reported,
on July 12, as 1330Z on July 3.

Source

MSG8.PDF, p. 350; MSG10.PDF, p. 520; Finding Amelia, p.125

Probability

Less than one chance in a quadrillion.

Qual Factors

The propagation conditions did not permit hearing
Earhart. The four amateurs were Walter McMenamy, Karl Pierson, Kenneth
Bartell, and Robert Rypinski. All were members of the same amateur radio
club. This clearly was a hoax.

Credibility

Not credible.

45

Identifier

31455ML

Z Time/Date

1455 July 3

Local Time/Date

0655 PST July 3

Gardner Time/Date

0355 July 3

Agency/Person

Charles Miguel

Location

Oakland, CA

Freq (kHz)

“about 86 meters” (3488 kHz)

Content

COMFRANDIV reported receiving a telephone report from a
“Charles McGill,” amateur call sign W6CHI, in Oakland, who said he heard SOS
calls from Earhart “on about 86 meters,” saying she was at a point 225 miles
north northwest of Howland Island, and asking Putnam to fly a kite. The 1935
Radio Amateur Call Book shows call sign W6CHI was assigned to Charles Miguel
of Oakland. Apparently, the person who took the call at COMFRANDIV
misunderstood “Miguel” as “McGill.”

Source

MSG8.PDF, p. 328; Radio Amateur Callbook 1935; Finding
Amelia, p.126.

Probability

n/a

Qual Factors

There is no land within 250 miles of the reported point. The
plane could not transmit if on water. The Oakland Tribune (July 6, 1937) reported that Miguel’s amateur license (W6CHI)
expired in December 1936. Therefore, he did not hold W6CHI when he called
COMFRANDIV. A Coast Guard investigation found that another report by Miguel
was false, and that his reputation was “extremely dubious” (MSG9.PDF, p. 436).
Miguel clearly was a hoaxer.

Credibility

Not Credible

46

Identifier

31655BL

Z Time/Date

1655 July 3

Local Time/Date

0855 PST July 3

Gardner Time/Date

0555 July 3

Agency/Person

Kenneth Bartell and Walter McMenamy

Location

Los Angeles

Freq (kHz)

Unknown

Content

Bartell said he heard signals from KHAQQ, in a man’s
voice, which he believed to be Noonan. McMenamy said he also heard Noonan’s
voice at this time, and that Earhart previously had sent distress calls at
15-minute intervals during the night and early morning.

At 3105 kHz, less than one chance in a quadrillion until
1655Z, when the probability was zero because the entire propagation path was
then in sunlight. At 6210 kHz, about one chance in ten thousand until 1400Z,
one chance in a quadrillion at 1500Z, and zero at 1655Z because the entire
propagation path was then in sunlight.

Qual Factors

Reception on either 3105 kHz or 6210 kHz was impossible at
1655Z. As noted previously in this catalog, McMenamy was a hoaxer, and
Bartell may have been present at the same location with McMenamy, Pierson,
and Rypinski. This report clearly was a hoax.

Credibility

Not Credible

47

Identifier

31900PX

Z Time/Date

1900 July 3

Local Time/Date

1400 July 3

Gardner Time/Date

0800 July 3

Agency/Person

Nina Paxton

Location

Ashland, Kentucky

Freq (kHz)

Unknown

Content

Mrs. Paxton claimed to have heard Earhart say “down in
ocean,” then “on or near little island at a point near …,” then something
about “directly northeast,” and “our plane about out of gas. Water all
around. Very dark.” Then something about a storm and that the wind was
blowing, “will have to get out of here,” “we can’t stay here long.”

0.003 on 24,840 kHz, the 4th harmonic of
Earhart’s day frequency (6210 kHz); less than one chance in a quadrillion on
any lower frequency.

Qual Factors

Paxton made repeated attempts to get someone to pay
attention to her story and, in later years, greatly embellished it with
details that are not credible – but her original account as reported in
July 1937 is credible. Reception was possible on 24,840 kHz. Earhart could
not transmit if she was “down in ocean” but Paxton says she also heard “on
or near little island,” so she could be referring to the reef at Gardner which
is in the ocean and could be described as being “on or near” the island. The
phrase “very dark” could refer to an approaching squall.

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